August 2013

August 31, 2013

Four Texas A&M football players, including three defensive starters, were suspended today for two games for unspecified violations of team rules. The suspensions take effect immediately, with the four players eligible to return for the team’s Sept. 14 game against Alabama.

The three defensive starters who will miss today’s Rice game are CB De’Vante Harris, LB Steven Jenkins and DE Gavin Stansbury. Receiver Edward Pope, a backup, also will miss the first two games.

The latest suspensions, announced by school officials, means eight different Aggies will serve disciplinary suspensions of some sort against the Owls. Also out for today’s game are DL Kirby Ennis and DB Floyd Raven. Two players are suspended for half of today’s game: DB Deshazor Everett and QB Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.

August 30, 2013

AT&T Stadium has modified its security policy by
limiting the size and style of bags allowed into the stadium. The large purse shown here? That won't fly Saturday at TCU's season opener against LSU.
Prohibited bags
include, but are not limited to, the following: all purses, bags or containers
larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs,
cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases
(binoculars may be worn around the neck), diaper bags, and seat cushions.

For more details on the bag restrictions visit
www.dallascowboys.com/bags.

Stefan Stevenson@FollowtheFrogs

AT&T Stadium has modified its security policy by limiting the size and style of bags allowed into the stadium. Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to, the following: all purses, bags or containers larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases (binoculars may be worn around the neck), diaper bags, and seat cushions.

For more details on the bag restrictions visit www.dallascowboys.com/bags.

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth will become part of the Big 12 bowl mix in the 2014 season, league and bowl officials announced Friday.

As part of the deal, the Big 12 will provide its No. 7 pick to either the game in Fort Worth or the Heart of Dallas Bowl five times during a six-year stretch (2014-19). A Big 12 team will be a primary back-up selection in the other season.

In years that a Big 12 school does not wind up in Fort Worth, a team from the Big Ten will compete in the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium while a Big 12 school heads to Dallas as part of a reciprocal deal between the two bowls and the two leagues. The Big Ten agreement with the D-FW bowls, announced in July, covers the 2013-19 seasons.

The Big Ten will send a team to this year’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. The 2013 Armed Forces Bowl, to be played Dec. 30 in Fort Worth (10:45 a.m., ESPN), will feature Navy – pending bowl eligibility -- against an opponent from the Mountain West Conference.

In seasons when the Big 12 team plays in the Armed Forces Bowl, that school will play an opponent from the American Athletic Conference. When the Big 12 team winds up in Dallas, the opponent will come from Conference USA.

Brant Ringler, executive director of the Armed Forces Bowl, said officials in Fort Worth are “extremely excited to be working … with the Big 12 Conference and its counterparts in the Big Ten during the next six seasons.”

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bolwsby said adding the D-FW connection allows league officials to meet “all the benchmarks” sought by schools for future bowl tie-ins: a strong presence in Texas, combined with options in Florida, Arizona and another drivable destination for most schools (Liberty Bowl in Memphis).

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth will become part of the Big 12 bowl mix, starting with the 2014 season, sources close to the situation have confirmed. A formal announcement is expected later today.

As part of the deal, the Big 12 will provide its No. 7 pick to either the game in Fort Worth or the Heart of Dallas Bowl on an annual basis five times during a six-year stretch (2014-19). A Big 12 team will be a primary back-up selection in the other season.

In years that a Big 12 school does not wind up in Fort Worth, a team from the Big Ten will compete in the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium while a Big 12 school heads to Dallas as part of a reciprocal deal between the two bowls and the two leagues. The Big Ten agreement with the D-FW bowls, announced in July, covers the 2013-19 seasons.

The Big Ten will send a team to this year’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. The 2013 Armed Forces Bowl, to be played Dec. 30 in Fort Worth (10:45 a.m., ESPN) will feature Navy – pending bowl eligibility -- against an opponent from the Mountain West Conference.

August 29, 2013

The college football season kicks off this weekend and the Texas A&M-Alabama game on Sept. 14 is the hottest commodity on the re-sale ticket market, based on information provided today by vividseats.com.

The A&M-Alabama game, a battle of Top 10 teams in the preseason polls, has an average re-sale price of $744 per ticket, with a $359 minimum, based on data compiled by the website.

Among opening-week matchups, the costliest re-sale tickets are for these games: Georgia-Clemson ($292), Boise State-Washington ($232) and Alabama-Virginia Tech ($175).

Among individual schools, the highest average ticket prices for home games are found at Notre Dame ($290), Ohio State ($280) and Alabama ($246). Texas A&M is sixth on that list ($205), with Texas at No. 8 ($186) and Oklahoma at No. 10 ($169).

In terms of individual contests, the Red River Rivalry matchup between Texas and Oklahoma ranks fifth nationally on the re-sale market, with an average price of $466 and a minimum price of $191.

August 28, 2013

Wide receivers Jaxon Shipley and Marcus Johnson were limited in practice Tuesday and practiced again Wednesday. Whether they will suit up for the Longhorns in Saturday's season opener against New Mexico State has not been decided.

"They did not have more soreness today than yesterday, so that was good," head coach Mack Brown said. "We'll press them a little bit harder today, get them in more competition and probably won't know for sure how they'll do until Saturday morning."

Shipley, who is recovering from a hip injury, made a team-high 59 catches for 737 yards and six touchdowns in 2012. Johnson played in eight games last season without making any catches. He sprained his right MCL earlier this month and is also questionable for this weekend.

Sophomore wideout Kendall Sanders will not play this weekend while he serves a one-game suspension stemming from a DWI arrest in April. That means Texas may need true freshman Jacorey Warrick to play and could even have sophomore cornerback Duke Thomas, who played both ways in this year's Orange-White Scrimmage, to play wide receiver.

"We are going to have an emergency plan for Duke Thomas so, if we had to move him over, if we had too many receivers hurt until we get everybody back. He worked there five days in the spring, so we'll work him there a little bit today and a little bit tomorrow."

Freshman quarterback Tyrone Swoopes is not injured but is also questionable for Saturday's opener. With Jalen Overstreet moving to running back and Connor Brewer transferring to Arizona over the offseason, Swoopes was left as the only option to be the Longhorns' third-string quarterback.

"We've got to see him step up," Brown said of Swoopes at Big 12 Media Days last month. "We would like to play him. We would like for him to be good. David [Ash] thinks he's made progress."

Ash and senior Case McCoy are the only two other quarterbacks with scholarships on the Texas roster. If Swoopes doesn't play this weekend, there's a chance he could redshirt this year.

Senior defensive tackle Ashton Dorsey's decision to transfer came as a surprise to most people but, according to Texas head coach Mack Brown, it was a "mutual" one.

"We met with him and felt like it was mutual and best for him," Brown told reporters Wednesday. "It was best for him that he get a new start somewhere else. We're trying to help him go to the place that he wants to go and give him an unconditional release and get him to move forward."

Dorsey's decision to transfer was announced by the school Tuesday morning, leaving the Longhorns with only three defensive tackles that have seen the field for Texas -- Malcom Brown, Chris Whaley and Desmond Jackson. Freshmen defensive tackles Alex Norman, Hassan Ridgeway and Paul Boyette, Jr. could all get playing time during the Longhorns' season opener against New Mexico State this weekend.

Despite Dorsey's absence, Brown said defensive tackle depth was not a concern.

"We've got more depth there than we've had probably most of the last three years," Brown said. "We're planning on playing at least Hassan and Alex Norman Saturday night for sure, and Paul may get in some. But right now I would say probably Hassan is the first guy to go in. We're planning on playing a lot of players. We want to play twenty-someting guys on defense the first half."

Dorsey, who was not listed in the depth chart Texas released Monday, was battling a calf injury that was likely to keep him out of Saturday's opener, regardless of whether he was transferring. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported Tuesday night that Dorsey was in Beaumont and planning on transferring to Lamar University.

"That comes as a surprise to me," defensive end Cedric Reed said of Dorsey's decision. "Ashton Dorsey brought that toughness, man. He was a tough guy. We needed him. It's pretty sad."

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Rice for what is considered an inadvertent violation of an NCAA rule regarding autographs.

In a joint statement issued Wednesday, school and NCAA officials agreed there was “no evidence that quarterback Johnny Manziel received money in exchange for autographs, based on currently available information and statements by Manziel.”

Because of the inadvertent violation of an NCAA bylaw that says athletes are “required to take steps to stop” the use of their name or picture on commercial items sold by an individual or agency, A&M officials declared Manziel ineligible and submitted a three-part penalty that was accepted by NCAA officials.

In addition to sitting out the first half of Saturday’s opener against Rice (noon, ESPN), Manziel must address the team regarding the situation and lessons learned. A&M also must revise its education of student-athletes in regard to signing autographs for individuals with multiple items.

The penalties can be reviewed by NCAA officials if additional information surfaces and further action is considered appropriate. NCAA bylaws prohibit signing memorabilia in exchange for money and the joint release said: “based on information provided by Manziel, that did not happen in this case.”

Wednesday’s action ends more than three weeks of speculation about the eligibility status of the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and assures that A&M will start a former Tarrant County high school standout at quarterback against Rice: junior Matt Joeckel, an Arlington High School graduate, or Kenny Hill, a freshman from Southlake Carroll.

Speculation about Manziel’s availability began Aug. 4, when an ESPN “Outside the Lines” report alleged that Manziel accepted a five-figure fee in January for signing items for a memorabilia dealer in Florida. Citing unnamed sources, ESPN followed up with additional reports of other signings for profit involving Manziel but indicated many of the network’s sources were not willing to talk to NCAA investigators.

Manziel denied accepting money in exchange for his signature during a six-hour meeting Sunday with NCAA investigators in College Station, sources told CBSSports.com. Wednesday’s joint announcement showed that NCAA officials were satisfied with Manziel’s denial when weighed against other evidence they collected. His transgression that led to Saturday’s suspension stemmed from violating the “spirit” of bylaws 12.5.2.1 and 12.5.2.2, which require an athlete to try and stop the commercial use of his name or likeness for commercial purposes.

Manziel was not available for interviews and administrators from A&M and the NCAA issued prepared statements about the decision.

“Student-athletes are often asked for autographs from fans, but unfortunately, some individuals’ sole motivation in seeking an autograph is for resale,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice-president of academic and membership services. “It is important that schools are cognizant and educate student-athletes about situations in which there is a strong likelihood that the autograph seeker plans to resell the items.”

Texas A&M chancellor John Sharp, who declared Manziel “innocent” of the allegations during a television interview last week, praised his quarterback and coach Kevin Sumlin for handling the uncertainty surrounding Manziel’s eligibility status “with integrity and honesty.”

In a statement, Sharp said: “We all take the Aggie Code of Honor very seriously and there is no evidence that either the university or Johnny violated that code.”

The code says, “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

In his statement, A&M athletic director Eric Hyman praise the NCAA staff for “its fairness and professionalism throughout this process,” as well as its expediency in getting the case settled before Saturday’s kickoff. A&M, the No. 7 team in The Associated Press’ poll, is considered a national title contender. Wednesday’s ruling assures that Manziel, barring injury, will be on the field for the team’s Sept. 14 showdown in College Station against top-ranked Alabama.

A&M coach Kevin Sumlin was not available for comment. But in Tuesday’s news conference, he called the battle for the backup quarterback job between Joeckel and Hill “an ongoing competition.”

By Saturday, one of them will replace Manziel in A&M’s starting lineup. At least for the first half of the Rice game.

Based on published accounts from two sources, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Rice in the wake of allegations that he accepted money for signing memorabilia in the offseason in violation of NCAA rules.

The first report, from Billy Liucci of the website TexAgs.com, came via Twitter and said: “Latest on Manziel? Per multiple sources, he’ll be suspended for first half of season opener versus Rice on Saturday.”

Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com followed up minutes later on his Twitter account with this post: “Can confirm TexAgs report, Johnny Manziel will be sidelined for 1st half of A&M opener vs. Rice per source close to the QB.”

Although multiple messages have been left by the Star-Telegram, no A&M or NCAA official has confirmed the reports. From all indications, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner would not be found guilty of accepting money for signing autographs but would be found in violation of NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.2: Use of a student’s name or picture without knowledge or permission.

Under that bylaw, athletes are “required to take steps to stop” the use of their name or picture on commercial items used to promote a commercial project or sold by an individual or agency.

Although sitting down Manziel for one half of one game marks an unusual penalty, such a move would provide clarity for both A&M and the NCAA in regard to Manziel’s eligibility status for the 2013 season. It also would stand as a compromise solution to an investigation in which there was no reported evidence of Manziel accepting money, despite ESPN reports citing sources that said he did so.

Assuming that Manziel truly sits out the first half of Saturday’s game, A&M will select between two former Tarrant County high school players as its starting quarterback against Rice: Matt Joeckel, a junior from Arlington High School, and Kenny Hill, a freshman from Southlake Carroll.

Heading into the 2013 college football season, the most-discussed rules change made during the offseason involves an updated definition of “targeting” by a defensive player while making a tackle. To help fans understand the nuances of the rule, the Big 12 circulated a video featuring Walt Anderson, the league’s coordinator of football officials, explaining what is allowed and what will be penalty under 2013 rules. This information applies to rules implementation throughout the country, not just the Big 12. Below is a link to Anderson’s video: